In Geeta’s own words:
A phonecall from my local guardian, who happened to be in Hyderabad changed my life.
I found myself changed from a student to a married lady at the age of 18 years. I was in the hostel at St. Joseph’s College at Vizag in the final year waiting for my exams to get over. My marriage was fixed by my parents and I had to get married in 20 days. There was no meeting, no dating, no romance, no excitement, like in the Mills and Boon novels which were very popular at that point of time!
We met a few days before we got married on the terrace of my grandfather’s house where my uncle’s marriage was taking place. My cousins suggested we go up on the terrace to get a better view of the Baarat. Once we reached there, they just disappeared leaving me on the terrace, when I turned around I saw my future life partner standing all by himself - smiling. I really don’t remember what we spoke as I was very nervous, the thought of getting married scared me as I was not ready for it. It was some experience!!
Afterthoughts
But as I think about it now, it was a wonderful happening. The knot was finally tied, we became man and wife without knowing each other. But as we progressed in our marriage, we discovered new facets of our personalities, we got to know each other - we are total opposites who sometimes attract each other. We accepted each other’s belief’s and complemented each other’s talents and strengths.
A deep sacredness and bond arose in our quality of life as our family grew from two to five members. We taught our children the fine values of life, that every action has consequences ; as I see them now I can see that they have grown up to be balanced individuals.
Life after marriage
My husband is a builder and an architect- in fact who ventured to build colonies in Hyderabad way back in 70’s. Umanagar at Begumpet was his first pride and then came many more. He belongs to the erstwhile family of the Ex Malwala Estate and is the son of Late Raja Dharam Karan. As a daughter of an IAS Officer spent a lot of time in boarding schools and hostels.
I started teaching with no qualifications at the HPS, Begumpet as a voluntary teacher; gradually realising my call for teaching. I did Montessori training, then BEd and with my husband’s encouragement started my own school Gitanjali school after completing my post graduation. The experience I had at HPS helped prepare me to accept whatever position I found myself in “Founder principal of Gitanjali. I have developed myself by developing my abilities through observation, reasoning, taking risks, learning through mistakes. Being a constant learner I have a strong sense of self-worth.
Happiness and Sorrow
With God directing our lives and helping us find happiness and fulfilment in our work and in our relationship, we have reached this stage.
For us life was not smooth all along, we had our ups and downs, living fully at each stage of life was a real challenge. We have come out of all our obstacles and our hardships, a little more stronger. The most painful experience was losing our young son in an accident, it was the darkest and the most depressing time for us. I have come to realise and believe that our healing can be found in our relationship with one another and in a shared commitment to higher purposes in the face of adversity.
Our Creator had other plans for us, having taken away one child from us, he has given us 5000 children to take care of ( all of Gitanjali children put together), we see our child in every one of them.
Life so far
We are both very involved in our schools. My husband took retirement from construction business and has been taking care of the administration, finance and construction of our schools. We have grown into five schools with two in Secunderabad, two in Begumpet and one at Kukatpally. I am reminded of C.S. Lewis Quote: “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts” and that’s exactly both of us have done. We have become competent and once we become competent, recognition and growth are bound to follow. The secret formula “Whatever a man can think and conceive he can achieve it, only if one has the desire to succeed”.
Now we have stopped striving, we know we are on a divine mission and that we are not alone, we have our children with us. Finally time is what shapes our lives. And it all started with Jab we met.